Department for Transport

Electric Vehicles: Sales

Baroness Randerson: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to estimates that new electric vehicle registrations for 2022 could reach 16 per cent, what plans they have, if any, to raise their target proposed in the Technical consultation on zero emission vehicle mandate policy design,published in April, that new electric vehicle sales should account for 22 per cent of total vehicle sales by 2024.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The technical consultation on the design of the ZEV mandate, setting out initial ZEV target trajectories of 22% for cars, and 8% for vans, closed on 10 June. We are now analysing consultation responses, and will bring forward the Government’s response, and a full regulatory proposal, in due course

Cars: Tyres

Lord Robathan: To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given, if any, to making the provision of a spare wheel in all new cars obligatory.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: There are various solutions to flat tyres including full-sized spare wheels, a temporary use space-saver spare, or a sealant and inflation kit. Many manufacturers choose to provide a sealant and inflation kit which has benefits in reducing the weight of the vehicle and reducing CO2 emissions.Incidences of tyre deflation are relatively rare and the Government currently has no plans to introduce a legal requirement for the inclusion of spare wheels on all new cars.

East West Rail Line

Baroness Randerson: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to review plans for the completion of East West Rail; and when they intend to complete any such review.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The case for East West Rail between Bletchley and Cambridge is currently under review. The Government will be providing an update on both the cost and business case in due course.

Question

Baroness Randerson: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority awarding the Connection Stages 2 and 3 project of East West Rail an "appears to be unachievable" rating in itsAnnual Report on Major Projects 2021–22, published in July.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The DfT notes the red assessment provided by the IPA. The project is in the concept and design phase. Work continues to refine delivery strategies and the scope, which is normal for a large and complex project.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Offshore Structures: Protection

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government who is responsible for coordinating protection of (1) oil and gas installations, (2) pipelines, (3) offshore windfarms, (4) undersea electrical cables and interconnectors, and (5) fibreoptic cables, in (a) UK territorial seas, and (b) UK exclusive economic zones; and where this coordination takes place.

Lord Callanan: The Government takes the protection and resilience of subsea and offshore infrastructure seriously and departments work together to protect it from malicious and other hazards such as accidental damage. The Cabinet Office is responsible for coordinating interdepartmental efforts. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is the lead department for the energy sector, including subsea energy CrNI. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is the lead department for telecommunications policy, including telecommunications subsea cables. The Ministry of Defence is responsible for defending UK interests within the UK Marine Area (UK Territorial Waters and Exclusive Economic Zones) and forms part of HMG’s efforts to counter state threats.

Copyright

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government what provisions inthe Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 protect performers from the unauthorised reproduction of their performance using artificial intelligence systems.

Lord Callanan: Performers such as actors and musicians have their performances protected under Part II of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended. Sections 182 and 182A of the Act give performers the right to control who is able to record and make reproductions of their performances. These provisions apply regardless of the technology used to make such reproductions, including AI technology.

Copyright

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government what are their proposed safeguardsfor rights holders to protect their content in respect of the proposed expansion of the text and data mining copyright exception.

Lord Callanan: The proposal will provide safeguards which include the requirement for lawful access to works, allowing measures to ensure stability of systems, and a restriction over the further use of copies.The proposed exception will be targeted to limit negative impacts, and the Government welcomes further views from rights holders on additional safeguards to achieve this.

Copyright

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government what impact assessment they have carried out regarding the implications of the proposed expansion of the text and data mining copyright exception on rights holders outside of copyright, such as performers working across the entertainment industry.

Lord Callanan: The Government asked questions about impact in the consultation on AI and IP but received limited quantitative evidence. An impact assessment will be published alongside the legislation when laid. The proposed exception will be targeted to limit negative impacts, and the Government welcomes further evidence from rights holders, including performers, on how to best achieve this.

Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government whatprogress they have made on the implementation of the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances.

Lord Callanan: The UK was unable to implement the Beijing Treaty in its own right while it was a member of the EU. Since leaving, it has committed to doing so as a sovereign nation. The Government has analysed responses to the recent Call for Views and expects to consult on specific options for implementation shortly.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government when they last reviewed their compliance with their obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; and what were the findings of any such review.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is committed to, and fully complies with, its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, ensuring that both its actions and domestic law are in compliance with those obligations.

Transcaucasus: Peace Negotiations

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask His Majesty's Government what conversations they have held, if any, with the government of Russia in relation to the prospects for peace and security in the South Caucasus.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UK Government has suspended all engagement with the Russian authorities except on a very limited number of issues including the Ukraine crisis. As such, the UK Government currently has no plans to engage directly with the Government of Russia on the situation in the South Caucasus.

Azerbaijan: Land Mines

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the assertion made, and (2) the evidence in support presented, by the government of Azerbaijan that the Armenian military has (a) laid landmines in Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory, and (b) made incursions into Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory, since the end of 2020.

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the assertion made, and (2) the evidence in support presented, by the government of Azerbaijan that theArmenian military fired into Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory during September 2020.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government is aware of these assertions. In calls with Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov on 15 and 17 September respectively, the Minister of State for Europe, Minister Docherty, reinforced the need for a cessation of hostilities and a return to substantive negotiations to settle all outstanding matters between the parties.

Transcaucasus: Arms Trade

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that arms sales from Turkey to Azerbaijan are having on stability in the South Caucasus.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government has not made a formal assessment of the impact that arms sales from Turkey to Azerbaijan have had on the stability of the South Caucasus. We continue to engage with the Government of Turkey on supporting international negotiation efforts to secure stability and security in the South Caucasus.

Armenia and Azerbaijan: Politics and Government

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the clashes along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan which began on 12 September; and what representations they have made to the governments ofthose countries in relation to (1) the exercise of restraint, and (2) the observation of agreements which ended the 2020 Nagorno–Karabakh war.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government condemns the recent violence along the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In calls with the Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov on 15 and 17 September respectively, the Minister of State for Europe, Minister Docherty, reinforced the need for a cessation of hostilities and a return to substantive negotiations to settle all outstanding matters between the parties. The UK will continue to work with both parties in the coming months to support efforts to secure regional stability and security.

Eritrea: Politics and Government

Baroness Goudie: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Eritrea about the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) organising concerts and festivals in (1) London, and (2) other European capitals; and what assessment, if any, they have made of those events.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We are aware of the events organised by the Eritrean Government and ruling party in countries across Europe, including the UK. After one such event organised by the Eritrean Embassy in London in September, clashes between attendees and protestors resulted in several arrests. Following this event, the FCDO has encouraged the Eritrean Embassy to communicate with their dedicated police liaison officer to ensure that any future events pass off peacefully.

Ministry of Defence

Aircraft Carriers

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Goldie on 20 September (HL2197), how many days at sea (1) HMS Queen Elizabeth, and (2) HMS Prince of Wales, have had since their acceptance by the Royal Navy; and on how many of those days operational F-35 jets have embarked.

Baroness Goldie: HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH has had 603 days at sea since vessel acceptance date, with operational F-35 jets embarked on 278 of those days.HMS PRINCE OF WALES has had 267 days at sea since vessel acceptance date, with operational F-35 jets embarked on 13 of those days.The normal operating cycle of every ship involves them entering different readiness levels depending on their programmes, periods of refit and Departmental planning requirements. In addition, these figures represent days at sea and it should be noted that, while deployed away from the UK, ships will spend both days at sea and alongside in ports around the world.

Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the current status of their proposed order of three Fleet Solid Support ships; whether they still intend that these ships will be built in the UK; and when they intend to launch the Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme.

Baroness Goldie: With reference to the first element of the Noble Lord’s question relating to the Fleet Solid Support ships, I refer the noble Lord to the answers provided by my hon. Friend, the then Minister for Defence Procurement (Jeremy Quin), in the House of Commons on 4 July 2022 to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey), in response to Question HC27511; and on 29 June 2022 to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones) to HC24549. I can also confirm that the Government intends to launch the Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme later this year, subject to final Ministerial and HM Treasury approvals. This scheme will provide transactional cover for UK companies to underwrite the finance of new commercial vessel contracts. This will stimulate the industry by increasing the competitiveness of UK commercial shipbuilding.Fleet Solid Support Ships; Procurement (docx, 16.6KB)Fleet Solid Support Ships; Proicurement (docx, 16.3KB)

Aircraft Carriers: F-35 Aircraft

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government what calculation they have made, if any, of the minimum number of F35s the UK requires to ensure that in a major war or an emergency the full complement of 36 aircraft can be embarked in the designated carrier.

Baroness Goldie: I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 8 September 2022, volume 824 during the debate in the House of Lords main chamber.Royal Navy; F35 (docx, 17.5KB)

Aircraft Carriers

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government when the last aircraft carrier was lost by the Royal Navy; and whether she had her airwing embarked.

Baroness Goldie: Chronologically the last aircraft carrier lost by the Royal Navy was the Escort Carrier HMS DASHER which sank as a result of an internal explosion in the Clyde on 27 March 1943.The aircraft embarked were Sea Hurricanes from 891 Naval Air Squadron and Swordfish from 816 Naval Air Squadron.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Office for Environmental Protection

Lord Anderson of Ipswich: To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the Common Framework document that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will agree with the Office for Environmental Protection.

Lord Benyon: We are committed to working collaboratively with the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) to finalise the Defra-OEP framework agreement. We are currently in the final stages of negotiations. The purpose of the Framework Document is to set out the broad governance framework within which the OEP and Defra operate. It will reflect the parties' core responsibilities and will describe the governance and accountability framework that applies between the parties, including how the day-to-day relationship works in practice. This will include detail on governance and financial matters, whilst also respecting the provisions in the Environment Act for OEP independence.

Office for Environmental Protection

Lord Anderson of Ipswich: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the implementation of the duty of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to have regard to the need to protect the independence of the Office for Environmental Protection as set out in Schedule 1 of the Environment Act 2022.

Lord Benyon: The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has been provided with safeguards to ensure its operational independence from the Government, including a specific duty on the Secretary of State to have regard to the need to protect the OEP’s independence. The indicative five-year budget for the OEP has been protected by Defra within this spending review period. This ensures the OEP has sufficient funds to carry out its statutory functions and gives the OEP greater certainty of its finances with which to plan its future activities. The OEP board has set out its strategy and continue to operate independently of Government.

Musical Instruments: Customs

Baroness Randerson: To ask His Majesty's Government what negotiations are taking place with the governments of (1) France, (2) Belgium and (3) the Netherlands, to designate Eurostar terminals as entry and exit points for items including musical instruments affected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); what progress they have made in any such negotiations; and, in the absence of any agreement,what steps they are taking to broaden and increase the number of ports of entry to the EU that can be used by UK musicians who are required to obtain a carnet to work in the EU.

Lord Benyon: Any specimen covered by CITES controls must be imported or exported through one of the 36 designated and operational land, sea and air Points of Entry (PoE). The full list is available at GOV.UK and kept under review. We are working closely with Border Force, industry and our European counterparts to look at the feasibility of designating further PoE to provide additional routes for the movement of CITES items (e.g. musical instruments), including the Eurostar. Approximately 80 countries around the world (including all EU member states) accept ATA Carnets. ATA Carnets are not a mandatory requirement for anyone temporarily moving goods between the United Kingdom and the EU, including musicians transporting their instruments. They are an optional facilitation that allows goods to be imported temporarily without the normal customs formalities (i.e. customs declarations) and import duty being paid. They allow a single document to be used for multiple countries’ customs controls. The management of EU import and export procedures is the responsibility of the customs authority of the relevant EU member state.

Anaerobic Digestion: Drug Resistance

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of therisk of anaerobic digestion facilities increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance.

Lord Benyon: HM Government has not conducted specific research into the risks of anaerobic digestion facilities increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance, but it does consider that anaerobic digestion is an effective method for the disposal of animal by-products as the process destroys bacteria and is considered to be the best approach for reducing spread of bacteria to the environment. Guidance on the handling of manure and slurry to reduce antibiotic resistance can be found at Handling of manure and slurry to reduce antibiotic resistance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress the Animal and Plant Health Agency has made in its investigation into the deaths of millions of factory farm chickens during heatwaves in summer 2022; when the results of the investigation are expected to be published; and what plans they have to prevent future such events.

Lord Benyon: The Animal and Plant Health Agency is supporting local authorities in investigating what took place on individual poultry units. Ongoing investigations are confidential as any information released may prejudice any potential legal action in the future.HM Government takes breaches of animal welfare legislation very seriously. Prior to and during this summer's heatwaves, we reiterated advice to livestock keepers to ensure their contingency plans took full account of the need to protect health and welfare during hot weather. We are very concerned about the significant mortalities in broiler chickens that occurred. We are discussing what happened with the poultry sector and looking carefully at what measures could be put in place in future to help prevent a recurrence of mass mortalities and improve broiler chicken welfare.

Marine Environment: North of England

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer fromLord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 22 February (HL6071), what further informationthey have gathered in relation to ecological problems off the coasts of Yorkshire and North-East England; and what plansthey have for further studies and actions relating to any such problems.

Lord Benyon: We are aware there have been some localised reductions in catch rates and we are continuing to monitor shellfish populations in the area. This is a complex scientific issue, which is why we took a thorough, evidence-based approach. We will continue to work with academic researchers.

Cosmetics

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of theenvironmental impact of production and release of (1) petrochemical, and (2) mineral UV-filters, currently approved as active ingredients in cosmetics.

Lord Benyon: (1) The Environment Agency (EA) cannot assess the impact on the environment from petrochemical ingredients in cosmetics. Petrochemicals are used in a large range of manufacturing processes and the EA cannot, with confidence, trace petrochemicals in the environment specifically back to the widespread use of cosmetics. (2) The EA Chemical Assessment Unit published a review of organic UV filters in cosmetics prior to the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations coming into force (here and copy attached). They have a project this year to update it, which will complete by March 2023. The EA has developed a Prioritisation and Early Warning System (PEWS) for chemicals of emerging concern to ensure consideration of the potential risks of emerging chemicals including to surface waters (both freshwater and saline waters), groundwater and soils. The system allows the EA to sift and to screen any chemical substance nominated using, where available, hazard data and environmental monitoring data to prioritise whether a substance may be a possible chemical of concern in England. The EA has considered some mineral UV-filters as part of PEWS: zinc oxide in its nanoform; and titanium dioxide in its nanoform. However, both substances have a much broader range of uses beyond cosmetics, so it is not possible to isolate the impact of release from cosmetic use alone. Both substances flagged as low risk in PEWS, but the EA stresses it has low certainty over this outcome, due to a lack of available data.   UV filters review - Environment Agency  (pdf, 428.3KB)

Water Companies: Fines

Lord Goddard of Stockport: To ask His Majesty's Government what direction they have given, if any, to OFWAT to increase the penalties imposed on water companies for failing to rectify or prevent water leakages.

Lord Goddard of Stockport: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of OFWAT in relation to the imposition of obligations on water companies to reduce losses through leakages over the last three years.

Lord Benyon: The Environment Secretary made it clear that water companies must improve their environmental performance and deliver more for customers. Water companies have targets set by Ofwat that they need to meet (performance commitments), and reducing leakage is one of these. They face automatic financial penalties when these are missed. Ofwat also has enforcement powers in regard to legal obligations companies have in legislation or their license. If a company significantly misses its leakage performance commitment this could indicate the company might be breaching a legal obligation, which would prompt Ofwat to investigate further. Ofwat has already put in place clear financial consequences for companies that underperform on leakage. For example, in 2018 Thames Water was found to have breached its general duty under Section 37 of the Water Industry Act 1991 in regard to leakage. Enforcement action resulted in them paying rebates totalling £120 million back to customers, comprising underperformance penalties of £55 million and an additional £65 million to reflect failures of the company. Ofwat has also set requirements for water companies to cut leaks by 16% and reduce mains bursts by 12% by 2025. In July, Ofwat reported that industry wide leakage has reduced by 11% since 2017-18. Water companies have committed to delivering a 50% reduction in leakage from 2017 to 2018 levels by 2050, and we expect Ofwat to challenge companies to deliver this and monitor progress. In addition, water companies will need to contribute to delivery of Defra’s proposed Water Demand Target under the Environment Act 2021 to reduce the use of public water supply per person in England by 20% by 2037. This includes a 31.3% reduction in leakage by 2037, a pathway for companies to meet their 50% reduction in leakage commitment by 2050.

Home Office

Slavery: British Nationality

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask His Majesty's Government what training is given toFirst Responders in the National Referral Mechanism about the specific (1) indicators, (2) needs, and (3) entitlements, of British nationals who are victims of modern slavery.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: First Responder Organisations (FROs) in the National Referral Mechanism are responsible for providing training for those within their organisation who act as First Responders, taking account of the specific circumstances of their role.The Home Office published an e-learning package for First Responders. This consists of two modules, one on indicators of modern slavery and how to make a referral into the NRM (published summer 2020) and a second (published in June 2021) which focuses on the vulnerabilities of child victims.All confirmed victims are entitled to tailored support based on their individual needs, irrespective of nationality.

Abortion: Clinics

Baroness Eaton: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the policy of supporting a locally-driven response to demonstrations at abortion clinics; and whether they still consider that local authorities have sufficient powers to address any potential challenges arising in relation to such demonstrations.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The Government is clear that it is unacceptable that patients seeking healthcare advice or staff working in healthcare facilities should feel intimidated or harassed. Since the 2018 review, the Government has continued to keep the matter of abortion-related protest outside clinics under review and continues to believe that a locally-driven response to demonstrations outside abortion clinics in England and Wales is proportionate.The existing laws give the police and local authorities the powers they need to deal with harmful protests, and the Government expects the police and local authorities to use their existing powers appropriately.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Lord Goddard of Stockport: To ask His Majesty's Government how much money has been reimbursed forpayments to people volunteering accommodation to Afghan refugees to date; and what liabilities have been incurred in this respect.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: Afghan families are provided with safe and clean accommodation in hotels, which are procured through Crown Commercial and contracting partners, whilst officials work to source appropriate settled accommodation for them. Those temporarily living in a hotel have access to healthcare, education, any essential items they need, as well as employment opportunities or Universal Credit. Whilst we cannot comment on individual contracts, please be assured that the Home Office works hard to secure contracts that offer the best value for money, whilst providing an appropriate level of support to those under our care.

Slavery: British Nationality

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the reasons for the increasing number of British nationals referred to the National Referral Mechanism for victims of modern slavery, and (2) the measures needed to prevent this exploitation.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: In 2021 the most common nationality referred to the National Referral Mechanism was UK nationals, which accounted for 31% (3,952) of all potential victims (compared to 34% in 2020). A high number of those UK nationals are children. For those exploited as children, an increase in the identification of ‘county lines’ cases has partially driven the rise in the number of cases. Preventing vulnerable people being drawn into slavery is one of the most effective ways of tackling this crime. The UK Government has invested £10 million, via the Arts and Humanities Research Council, to establish the Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre, to transform the evidence base underpinning our policy response to modern slavery, including what works to prevent this exploitation. We have also invested in a modern slavery prevention fund to test new approaches to preventing modern slavery.

Drugs: Organised Crime

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask His Majesty's Government how many people in England and Waleswere recorded as victims of 'cuckooing', the exploitation through the occupation and control of their home by others (1) in 2021, and (2) from January to June 2022.

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the laws available to prosecute those who exploit their victims through occupation, use and control of the victim’s home, known as 'cuckooing'; and how many (1) prosecutions, and (2) convictions, therewere for cuckooing behaviour in 2021.

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask His Majesty's Government how many victims of 'cuckooing'were prosecuted for criminal offences related to the criminal activity resulting from this exploitation (1) in 2021, and (2) from January to June 2022.

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the particular circumstances which make people vulnerable to exploitation through 'cuckooing', and of the needs of those victims for protection and support.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: This Government is aware of the abhorrent practice of cuckooing which often occurs in the context of the county lines drugs supply model.We are determined to crack down on county lines gangs and that is why, through the ten-year Drugs Strategy, we are investing up to £145m over three years in our successful County Lines Programme.Since November 2019 the County Lines Programme has closed over 2,400 lines, made over 8,000 arrests, and engaged over 9,500 individuals through safeguarding interventions.Whilst data on cuckooing is not held centrally, the latest week of intensification against county lines (conducted by the Home Office-funded National County Lines Co-ordination Centre (NCLCC) in March 2022), saw 799 cuckooed properties visited.The Home Office is working with NCLCC to raise awareness of cuckooing through training and peer reviews as well as promoting best practice of how to tackle it through the use of civil orders and multi-agency partnership working and intelligence sharing.

Asylum: Detainees

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government how many asylum applicants have been detained this year as a result of arriving in the UK via a third country.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: Individuals are detained only for the purpose of establishing identity or where there is a realistic prospect of removal within a reasonable timescale. Individuals are not detained simply because they have arrived via a third country. All decisions to detain are taken on the basis of a careful consideration of the known facts of the individual case, including all factors arguing both for and against detention As the method or route of arrival is not a reason to detain an individual, the requested information cannot be accurately extracted from our internal systems. To provide this information would require a manual trawl of case records and to do so would incur disproportionate cost The Home Office does publish statistics on people in detention in the 'Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release', which can be found on Gov.uk. The number of people in detention at the end of each year is broken down by asylum and non-asylum in table Det_01. Asylum-related cases refer to those where there has been an asylum claim at some stage prior to or during, detention. This will include asylum seekers whose asylum claims have been refused, and who have exhausted any rights of appeal, those returned under third country provisions, as well as those granted asylum/protection, but detained for other reasons (such as criminality). Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.

Asylum: Rwanda

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the annual plan due to be agreed jointly by the Monitoring Committee and Joint Committee for the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda.

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the quarterly written reports produced for the Joint Committee by the Monitoring Committee for the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The Monitoring Committee will agree an annual, resourced monitoring plan with the Joint Committee. The terms of reference and membership of the Monitoring Committee for the Migration and Economic Development Partnership have been published on Gov.uk. As set out in its terms of reference, the Monitoring Committee will produce a summary report for publication once a year. More details on this will be set out in due course.

Asylum: Detainees

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether asylum seeker detention centres will be able to provide a medical report within the seven-day appeals period that starts as soon as a notice of intent for removal is given to an asylum seeker.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: All immigration removal centres (IRCs) have dedicated health facilities run by doctors and nurses which are managed by the NHS or appropriate providers. All detained individuals entering an IRC receive a healthcare screening within 2 hours of their arrival and are offered an appointment with a doctor within 24 hours. In addition, residents have full access to the 24-hour on-site healthcare team during their stay in the IRC. Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 requires General Practitioners (GP) working in IRCs to report to the Home Office where they (i) have concerns that an individual is likely to be to be injuriously affected by continued detention or any conditions of detention, (ii) suspect that an individual has suicidal intentions or (iii) have concerns that an individual may have been a victim of torture. All reports raised under Detention Centre Rule 35 are now considered by a single Home Office team, independent from detained casework commands. The team considers the individual circumstances of the case in line with the Adults at Risk in Detention Policy. Following due consideration, a decision will be made and relayed to the individual, the relevant IRC, and the detained casework team as to whether or not continuing detention remains appropriate. Contingency plans are in place to manage any increase in Rule 35 requests from residents, which includes scheduling extra GP appointments where necessary and proactively striving to reduce waiting times. Work is underway in collaboration with healthcare providers across the immigration removal estate to develop and refine training for on-site healthcare teams on the importance and correct use of Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Carbon Monoxide: Alarms

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer fromBaroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist on 20 September (HL2103),what is the timetable for the review of the regulations introduced on 1 October to extend requirements for carbon monoxide alarms.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: The regulations, set out that it is the intention of the Government to publish a report on the conclusions of the first review of The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 by 1st October 2027, five years after the regulations have commenced. In the meantime, we continue to monitor to feedback from the social housing sector on how these regulations are being received and embedded into the sector. In light of the feedback already received, we plan to update the current guidance for tenants, landlords and local authorities.

Refugees: Housing

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to ensure (1) Afghan, and (2) Ukrainian, refugees are moved from temporary accommodation into more stable, long-term housing arrangements.

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to assist Afghan refugees currently housed in poor-quality temporary accommodation.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: The Government is working with councils to find families settled homes as quickly as possible. It is right that we take time to ensure that families are provided with suitable homes that support their integration and access to education and employment.In addition to the funding local authorities receive for integration support costs, a £25.5million Housing Costs fund is available to local authorities to help meet the costs of housing. Funding provided to support integration can also be used towards costs needed to enable families to secure accommodation, including deposits and upfront rent, enabling families to fund their own accommodation.We are working with Rightmove to identify potential properties available in the private rented sector. This provides councils with additional information to source appropriate properties. Our improved Housing Portal also allows property owners and organisations to submit offers of housing for people who have arrived from Afghanistan.We are also working with councils to make it easier for Afghan families who are currently in bridging hotels to find and secure their own accommodation. We have formalised this as the 'Find Your Own Accommodation' pathway, and we have developed a supplementary training package to enable councils to support individuals and families throughout this process. We have also worked with the Ministry of Defence to make use of Service Family Accommodation and we are working directly with developers and educational bodies to consider alternative accommodation options.We are working closely with local councils and voluntary and community sector partners to monitor the housing landscape for Ukrainian households, develop our strategy and actively explore options to find suitable long-term accommodation for those who are likely to stay in the UK beyond the initial six months. We have provided a tariff of £10,500 per arrival to councils to enable them to provide support to individuals and families. This is un-ringfenced, which allows councils to use the funding as best suits the local area, including measures to support guests to access the private rental market.

Freeports: National Parks

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to amend (1) planning rules, and (2) other regulations, in national parks included within the boundaries of freeport zones.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: By delivering investment on specific priority sites, Freeports will create thousands of high-quality jobs in some of our most disadvantaged communities. These sites have been carefully selected for their suitability for development by the local Freeport coalition, which comprises key private partners and Local Authorities who, importantly, provide democratic accountability for the actions of the Freeport. The development sites sit within an 'outer boundary' which sets the limit for how far apart they can be and broadly indicates the area they expect to benefit most directly from the Freeport's economic impacts. This in no way means that the area has been earmarked for development nor does this confer any special planning status. Local Authorities retain all their statutory powers and responsibilities, including responsibility for providing planning permission. Freeport status in no way undercuts the local planning process and there is no change to the current planning and environment status of national parks.

Housing: Water

Lord Goddard of Stockport: To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing a mandatory requirement to include water capture capabilities in all new build residential properties.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: In July 2021 the Government issued a Written Ministerial Statement, which can be found (attached) here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-07-01/hcws140 , on reducing demand for water in response to the Defra consultation on 'measures to reduce personal water consumption'. Within this statement, we committed to developing a roadmap towards greater water efficiency in new developments and retrofits, including the exploration of revised building regulations and how the development of new technologies can contribute to meeting these standards. We will ensure that the underlying legislation can, where appropriate, accommodate any potential future expansion of rainwater harvesting, water re-use and storage options. We plan to publish this roadmap by the end of 2022.Written Statement (pdf, 96.1KB)

Refugees: Ukraine

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to assist Ukrainian refugees in the UK who have been declared homeless.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: Our priority was to get Ukrainians to safety as quickly as possible. As with any scheme of this size we anticipated relationship breakdowns which is why we put plans in place to address these risks Local councils have a responsibility to support Ukrainians who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including providing temporary accommodation where required to ensure no family is without a roof over their head. Local councils’ statutory homelessness duties will apply in instances of sponsorship breakdown if the Ukrainian household does not have alternative suitable accommodation.

Refugees: Ukraine

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide housing solutions to Ukrainian refugees in the UK to enable them to increase their independence.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: We are working closely with local councils to understand where pressures may be and are actively exploring options to find suitable long-term accommodation for the Ukrainians who are likely to stay in this country beyond the households staying in the country beyond their initial sponsorship period. The updated guidance for the Homes for Ukraine guests, hosts and councils setting out all the support options available to them can be accessed (attached) here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils#four-to-6-months-after-guests-have-moved-to-your-area. Guidance for Council (pdf, 672.0KB)

Refugees: Ukraine

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase support to Ukrainian refugees and their host families, in particular to address increases in the cost of living.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: We recognise the growing pressure on family finances, and the challenges that households are facing with the rising costs of living. We are working with local authorities and sponsors to support them to continue hosting.

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the longer-term sustainability of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: We are working closely with local councils and voluntary and community sector partners to monitor the housing landscape for Ukrainian households, develop our strategy and actively explore options to find suitable long-term accommodation for those who are likely to stay in the UK beyond the initial six months. We are also supporting Ukrainians that want to stay in sponsorships for a longer period, but with a different host by enabling a process of rematching and will continue to develop our bank of potential sponsors.

Cabinet Office

Life Peers: Public Appointments

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the restrictions contained within the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 are a factor in their consideration of recommendations for the appointment of new peers.

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the application of the restrictions imposed by the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 in relation to recommendations for the appointment of new peers.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: It is against the law to 'sell' honours or peerages - offering cash for awards - under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925. Life peerages are vetted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission for matters of propriety, who seek advice from Government Departments and Agencies where appropriate.

Treasury

Exchange Rates: Dollar

Lord Birt: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the main reasons for the long-term decline of the value of the pound against the US dollar.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Financial market movements are determined by a wide range of domestic and international factors. It is not appropriate for the government to comment on specific currency market movements. The UK does not have an exchange rate target and the Government does not have a desired level for sterling – the price is determined by the market. The UK's macroeconomic framework is based on an inflation target, and it is for the independent Monetary Policy Committee to set monetary policy to meet this target.

Taxation: Disclosure of Information

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have fully to meet the standards for tax transparency set by the General Assembly of the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency, including its 14 guiding principles.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: HMRC, in combination with HM Treasury, the Office of Budget Responsibility, Office for National Statistics, and other Government departments are already meeting, or exceeding, areas identified in the 14 guiding principles set by the General Assembly of the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency for tax transparency, for example: HMRC publish an annual report which includes information on the prevailing tax gap and action taken to reduce it, as well as comprehensive accounts and other information on revenues, expenditure, performance and performance plans. This is in addition to separate publications on the measurement of tax gaps and other research conducted by HMRC on taxpayers’ behaviour and tax administration;HMRC’s published Annual Report and Accounts, as well as other aspects of its performance and expenditure, are regularly audited by the independent National Audit Office (NAO), and subject to Parliamentary scrutiny. NAO reports of its audits are also published. Revenue and other statistics published by HMRC adhere to the Official Statistics Code of Practice and are also subject to independent audit by the UK’s Statistics Authority;The UK Government and HMRC have increased their own transparency by publishing more data, including information about the exercise of powers. Government departments also publish data as part of a cross-Government transparency data publishing requirement, as directed by several letters from the Prime Minister since 2010;The UK Government collaborates with international and regional financial institutions, contributing to their published revenue statistics, to improve the fairness, efficiency, and effectiveness of tax administration, including through the Forum on Tax Administration; andThe Tax Assurance Commissioner (TAC) role was created in 2012 to strengthen governance and assurance of tax disputes. The TAC provides assurance to Parliament and the public on the handling of civil tax disputes, and their Report is published as part of HMRC’s Annual Report. Increasing transparency to improve the public’s trust in the tax system and Government accountability remains a focus for this administration.